We cordially invite you to our holy matrimony ceremony at Chennai on July 9th and 10th and become an integral part of our wedding diaries. Traditionally it is a two-day event, where various small ceremonies and rituals take place to seek the Lord and the ancestors to bless the couple with immense happiness and long-life of togetherness.
First event on Day 1 is called Virattham, where the two families invoke the grace of the God for the ceremony to go on well, and rituals are conducted thus.
First event on Day 1 is called Virattham, where the two families invoke the grace of the God for the ceremony to go on well, and rituals are conducted thus.
Virattham is later followed by Nandi were again the families seek the blessing of their ancestors.
Later during the day, Nischayathartham, a pre-wedding engagement ceremony is conducted. Here, the invitation, which holds immense importance in the marriage according to the Vedic philosophy, is read. This invitation is called as Manja Pathrikkai (yellow invitation owing to its yellow color, which is considered to be auspicious). It is when all the family members converge and have a chance to get to know the bride and bridegroom better.
Towards the evening, the couple welcome all the guests and there is a dinner party. This party is called the Reception.*
Day 2 starts with a hectic schedule and lot of colours and joy. There is a melodrama at the start where the bridegroom who is about to get married walks out of the marriage hall saying he wants to go Kasi (a holy place where sanyasis live) for good. The bride’s family tries to talk him out of it and get him married, which they are 101% successful at. This is called Kasi Yatra.
Another highlight is one called Malai Matrudhal or exchanging of garlands. The bride and bridegroom exchange garlands, where we see a little of action as the relatives try and make it difficult for them to garland each other.
After that little action, the couple are made to sit in a swing, this ceremony is called the Oonjal (ie swing). They enjoy the swing with all on-lookers staring at them (:P). The couple is fed with banana and milk (palum payayum) and some more rituals would follow.
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| Source : My click |
After that little feat the couple walk in, and the girl is given a red saree (koora podavai which is usually in red) asked to come in madisar (a 9 yards saree with complex twists and twirls is worn by the girl the first time, on the day of her marriage and henceforth on all auspicious days). The bridegroom performs poojas.
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| Source : My click |
Before the girl walks in, the stage is set for Mangalya Dharanam (the auspicious moment where the couple is pronounced man and wife, the only difference is by tying a knot). The next event is called Sapta Pathi (7 steps) where the bride and bridegroom walk their first seven steps together, where bridegroom holds the leg of his lady and walks. This falls in line with the Vedic scriptures which says of two people walk 7 steps with each other, this start a bond that lasts a lifetime.
In the evening, there are ceremonies where the couple plays games in order to familiarize with each other. This is called Nalangu. Thus the two day of fun and frolic comes to an end by uniting way too many people.
This is the Invitation which was posted in facebook for their colleagues to know about the ceremony. During the ceremony my mom and dad were telling how things were when they got married.
Marriage then and now !
Next post underway!
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*Reception is usually held after the wedding ceremony but owing to time constraints recently it is being conducted the previous day evening.